The VAFA’s best men’s and women’s players to take on Perth Football League

The VAFA has announced its three sides for representative clashes next weekend. See who will pull on the Big V.

The VAFA celebrate a goal in last year’s game. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) has unveiled powerful men’s and women’s side to take on the Perth Football League next weekend.

Men’s and women’s squads made up of the competition’s best players will travel to Western Australia for a huge double header on Sunday, July 7.

The games will be played at Steel Blue Oval, the home of WAFL club Swan Districts, with the women kicking off 2.15pm AEST before the men do battle from 4.30pm.

Greg Hutchison and Paul Groves were named as the coaches of the VAFA men’s and women’s teams earlier this year.

Both teams have now been confirmed with the final interchanges to still be selected.

Groves explained his team’s selection.

“We’ve gone for more of a running versatile team this year as opposed to a little taller last year,” he said in a statement provided by VAFA media.

“A number of girls who played VFLW last year like Jess Joyce and Sarah Cameron have come back into the team. Plus a few girls that weren’t available last year, such as Dakota Villiva from Kew and Taylah Watson from West Brunswick – it’s pretty exciting to have them come into the mix.”

“We feel really balanced. There’s going to be girls that play predominantly midfield for their club team who will go forward or back to grab their opportunity to play for the Big V.”

The VAFA won both game’s last year with the men prevailing in an extra time thriller, coming from 39 points down.

The PFL’s men’s team will be led by Craig White for the second year in a row while 2023 WAFLW premiership coach Steph Walding will take charge of the women’s team.

SELECTED MEN’S TEAM

B: Alastair Richards (SKOB), Doug Lawrence (Old Scotch), Brodie Steele (Old Haileybury)

HB: Charlie Cormack (Old Scotch), Will Lewis (Old Brighton), Campbell Moorfield (University Blacks)

C: Charlie Vague (St Bernard’s), Sam Fisher (Old Xaverians), Brodie Easton (Old Scotch)

HF: Nick Pavlou (Old Brighton), Dane Harvey (Fitzroy), Nathan Boucher (Collegians)

FF: Ben Harding (Old Melburnians), James Tarrant (Old Scotch), Sam Tucker (SKOB)

R: William Coates (SKOB), Marcus Stavrou (Old Xaverians), Harry Hill (Old Brighton)

Interchange from: Cam Hodges (SKOB), Luke McCleary (Collegians), Ryan Valentine (Old Scotch), Sam Laube (Old Melburnians), Charlie MacIsaac (Old Xaverians), Nathan Ligris (Fitzroy), Scott Beilby (Collegians).

SELECTED WOMEN’S TEAM

FB: Bree Doyle (St Kevins), Bella Gray (Old Scotch), Vic Holt (Melbourne University)

HB: Ella Baxter (Caulfield Grammarians), Kristy De Pellegrini (West Brunswick), Emily Condon (St Kevins)

C: Zara Guss (St Kevins), Taylah Watson (West Brunswick), Jess Joyce (St Kevins)

HF: Jade Wise (Old Scotch), Sarah Cameron (St Kevins), Georgia Nicholas (Melbourne University)

FF: Sophie Stewart (West Brunswick), Asha Price (Melbourne University), Kate Stanton (St Kevins)

R: Sarah Betts (St Kevins), Dakota Villiva (Kew), Mia Caffry (Old Scotch)

Interchange from: Amy Duguid (Coburg), Grace Osborne (Kew), Kate McCarthy (Caulfield Grammarians), Mia Cowan (Old Scotch), Kayla peake (Melbourne University), India Tait (Old Brighton), Brooke Randall (Melb Uni)

BIG V PREPARE TO TAKE ON BENDIGO

A team of 24 players has been announced of Premier B to Division 3 players to face the Bendigo Football League on July 6.

Coach Luke Mahoney said he was expecting a tough challenge.

“We know Bendigo will have a strong and experienced midfield with a variety of goal-kicking avenues. We are heading in with a ruck combination to give us an opportunity to win ball at stoppage,” he said.

“Our forward line will be dynamic and will be aligned with VAFA club teams that generally have a spread of goalkickers rather than the one spearhead. That’s exciting for us and will complement our outside game that we are focusing on.

“Our backline will be our key. There are a number of sharpshooters from Bendigo that we will need to close down and be constantly aware of. I feel we are well covered with flexibility within the team to try and shut those avenues down.”

FB: William Horsfall, Richie Simon, Callum Heath

HB: Fletcher Banfield, Jack Sheridan, Sam Kieseker

C: Harrison Kennedy, Charles Beasley, Archie Loughnan

HF: Riley Virtue, Josh Cowan, Callum Linehan

FF: Tom Filipovic, Alex Emery, Edward Weatherson

R: Oscar Roberts, Christian Algeri, Liam Conway

Interchange from: Nathan Scollo, Alex Bennett, Christos Manoussakis, Oskar Manton, Matt Fewings, Michael Nicholls